Davao del Norte first district congressional office chief of staff Raffy del Rosario has announced that his brother, Rep. Antonio Rafael G. del Rosario, has conquered his life-threatening bout with cancer. Raffy issued the statement while guesting in a recent special episode of Kapihan sa Kapitolyo, adding that the solon is presently recuperating in the U.S. but will be back home in June next year.
The congressman, “Anthony” to his family and friends, had wanted to be back in the country, but was advised by doctors to take full recuperation as the long traveling time would not be good for his health.
“I can ask him if my word is not good enough for you,” Raffy told the media members who pressed, based on public demand, for a black and white doctor’s clean bill of health for Anthony.
After winning the 2010 elections, Rep. del Rosario took a leave of absence to undergo thorough therapy from illness which was earlier detected as Hodgkin’s disease or lymph node cancer. In a press conference before the congressman left, he hoped to be back by December this year.
Meanwhile, Raffy del Rosario said projects of the congressman will soon take off as an initial P12.5 million funding will be made available before the year ends.
“He doesn’t have to be in the office for the money to be released,” Raffy said, referring to the congressman who is due to officially report in June 2011.
Part of the P12.5 million will be spent initially to fund the concreting of the Asuncion-San Isidro road and other projects which are part of the One Million per Barangay Program of the congressman.
Among other projects for funding next year are farm-to-market roads, rural electrification projects, water system and computer units for schools. The
first district office will also receive the P70 million priority development assistance fund (PDAF) share given to each member of the House of Representatives.
For barangay projects, Raffy del Rosario said projects considered for funding are those approved by the Expanded Barangay Development Council (EBDC), but he added that the it will be the congressman who will give the final approval of projects he would be funding. [PIA 11/jean duron-abangan]
